The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 04, 2008
Filed:
Oct. 02, 2000
Cornelius Borst, Bilthoven, NL;
Hendricus J. Mansvelt Beck, Bilthoven, NL;
Paul F. Grundeman, Amsterdam, NL;
Cornelis Wilhelmus Jozef Verlaan, Soest, NL;
Cornelius Borst, Bilthoven, NL;
Hendricus J. Mansvelt Beck, Bilthoven, NL;
Paul F. Grundeman, Amsterdam, NL;
Cornelis Wilhelmus Jozef Verlaan, Soest, NL;
Medtronic, Inc., Minneapolis, MN (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus for temporarily immobilizing a local area of tissue. In particular, the present invention provides a method and apparatus for temporarily immobilizing a local area of tissue within a patient's body cavity. In one embodiment, the tissue immobilized is heart tissue to thereby permit surgery on a coronary vessel in that area without significant deterioration of the pumping function of the beating heart. The local area of heart tissue is immobilized to a degree sufficient to permit minimally invasive or micro-surgery on that area of the heart. The apparatus for temporarily immobilizing a local area of tissue includes a first tissue engaging member and a second tissue engaging member coupled to a spreader. The spreader is operated by an actuator to selectively control the movement of the first tissue engager and the second tissue engager. The method for temporarily immobilizing a local area of tissue includes controlling the spreading of the first tissue engaging member and the second tissue engaging member so a selective amount of spreading occurs.